Justice Dept. launches probe into Newark police department

The Newark Police Department is being investigated by the U.S. Justice Department for allegations of excessive force, profiling, retaliation and other abuses.

The investigation comes nine months after an American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) report alleged that there were hundreds of cases in which the police abused citizens' civil rights.

Mayor Cory Booker says the fact that there's an investigation does not mean the police department is guilty, but then stirred up a controversy at a news conference by stating, "We asked for this, we encouraged it."

Deborah Jacobs, of the ACLU, says "The mayor's record has been well documented. He has opposed this intervention vigorously."

The U.S. attorney says the report by the ACLU was one factor, but not the deciding factor, in opening the investigation.